Remmeber
the hand print Christmas trees?? I did have a purpose for making two. One was for me of course.
But the other was for a stranger. Our mail carrier. I realized this person comes to our house every day (there's several that rotate but whatever) and this time of year is loading up our mailbox with seasons' greetings from tons of friends and family.
This year I've been trying to emphasize to Kendall about giving to others in the midst of a crazy season where it seems our culture, at least based on commercials, is wrapped up in getting. We've done a few acts of kindness for strangers and friends alike, and I felt like God was prompting us to give to our mail carrier this year as well.
Really, I'm not trying to brag at all. I so often get fixated on my own little world, my own four walls. And at Christmas is rears itself in obsession to capture the perfect Christmas card photo (didn't happen), purchase the ultimate gifts to make all dreams come true (totally unrealistic and budget busting), make the cutest teacher presents (they were semi-cute this year according to my standards) and hang the most beautiful Christmas decor thanks to Pinterest (I pulled a third of it out the box this year and slapped it up).
But I continued to feel prompted to give to a stranger when least expecting it. So here's the card we made.
Our mail delivery is totally random so I had no idea if we would make it in time for today's delivery. I prayed that if this was the day the mail carrier needed a little Christmas cheer then help up make it in time. And whoever needed it most, perhaps today is their route through our neighborhood.
Kendall and I DID make it in time. Please pay no mind to the red shirt, pink sweats and flip flops. We were too busy today to bother with minor details like bathing and dressing. We put it in the mailbox then ran back it as it was quite blustery today!
I was really hoping and praying that I would actually see the mail truck approach our house. But the likelihood of that was slim to none. But yall. Guess what?? Upon the tenth-ish time I peered out the front blinds I actually saw the postal truck arrive to OUR box! I think sometimes God orchestrates little things like these to remind us that He hears our every thought, He loves us, and He desires to work through us. I was so excited! I waited in anticipation as the mail lady shuffled her stack of our daily Christmas cards and holiday flyers before opening our box. She noticed our card and pulled it out as she shoved our loot in. And then...she sat there long enough to open it and read it! It totally made my day, and I hope she was blessed.
I'm reminded that we never know what's behind a smile, a tear, a kind word, or a cutting remark. We don't know others' joys or pains, or what God has blessed them with or required them to journey through. So be a blessing. Love instead of judge. Build up instead of tear down. Choose to be a blessing.
